Travel tests- reviews

sunsetingrimsby · 27/12/2021 09:10

Thanks for this.

We're travelling early January (hopefully) and have booked Randox for pre departure. We're rural so not local on-site testing and I daren't rely on Royal Mail, but I do have to drive 40 minutes to a drop box.

Hoping to do on-site at LGW when we return, if anyone has experience of this I'd be grateful.

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 27/12/2021 09:15

We are on holiday now used Collinson PCR, LFT at Phuket airport, PCR at a hospital here then Collinson again on return xx

sunsetingrimsby · 27/12/2021 09:31

How long did your Collinson PCRs take to come back @Borisjohnsonshairbrush.
Did you do them by post?

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 27/12/2021 09:44

We did the drive thru at MCR airport. 1.5 hrs for the results xx

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 27/12/2021 09:52

I can heartily recommend HALO verify at the Sofitel LHR T5 for the "Day 2" PCR. We took our tests on arrival at 16.00 and had the results by 20.00 the following day. This was extremely fast service when you take into account that our day of arrival was Christmas Day itself and the following day was Boxing Day! £59 a test too so not too extortionately expensive when you consider what some providers charge for a quick turnaround. They are also used by BA for their flight crew.

For the pre-departure LFT we used Chronomics who were the cheapest (£18 with a BA discount) and they did the job fine.

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 27/12/2021 10:01

So can you do an LFT for departure to return home? We are transitioning through Dubai though xx

countrygirl99 · 29/12/2021 05:53

Pre-departure LFT we used Collinson at Luton Airport. That was largely because we knew Finland were going to bring in a requirement but we didn't know exactly what and 48 hours before was late Sunday afternoon so booked PCR tests and changed to LFT. In the end we flew the 1st day tests were required and there was a lot of confusion in Finland over self administered tests like Randox.
Coming back we did Randox LFT but I couldn't upoad a scan on my phone. Luckily you can add family members on an account so we had to hurriedly add me to DHs account. Nothing on FAQs and helpline is only open 9-5 Monday to Friday so I would have been stuffed if by myself. Also got Randox PCRs. We landed too late to drop off last night so we will do this morning. If we had landed during the day I would have booked an airport test in arrivals.

countrygirl99 · 29/12/2021 08:36

I can't do my PCR just yet as I needed my morning cup of t4a and need to wait 30 mins but judging from the swearing coming from DH I'm guessing that he will agree the Randox registration system is a pain.

DoryisinCuba · 29/12/2021 17:41

How does it work with in airport ones in arrivals? I was tempted to book a drive through PCR at Heathrow but you have to book a ten minute slot. How on earth can I guarantee what time we’ll get through the airport?

Original poster

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/12/2021 17:54

Still waiting on Chronomics after 3 days. How much of that is them, and how much is Royal Mail... impossible to know.

And we've been 'pinged' from the flight anyhow.

OP posts:

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 29/12/2021 23:47

Omg really? So someone from your flight had it? Where was your holiday based?
We have our PCR's tomorrow ready for return on Saturday and I'm a quivering wreck.

Not worth the worry.

WillYouDoTheFandango · 30/12/2021 02:00

We used Chronomics in early November and they took 3.5 days to come back without the Christmas postal chaos.

TheTeenageYears · 30/12/2021 02:34

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

We have just returned from holiday.

We used...
Randox LFTs for return pre departures... got certificates through in under a minute of submitting scan. However App was complex to download.
Randox 2 day PCRs... did yesterday afternoon. Again the registering system was a pain. However we dropped them in the box at 4pm yesterday, results by 8am this morning.

Chromatics Day 2 PCRs... registering more straightforward. Used the Royal Mail return envelopes (as we couldn't get near a drop box). Posted yesterday at 2pm. Will update when we recieve results.

Why Randox and Chromatics PCR's?

countrygirl99 · 30/12/2021 04:26

We chose Randox because didn't want to rely on the post, especially at this time of year. I put the tests in the drop box at 10 yesterday and my result came through at 3.34 this morning. I would have booked a test at the airport if our flight timeshad permitted it.

Original poster

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/12/2021 06:51

@TheTeenageYears I have absolutely no idea why DH got him and me our tests from one company and the DDs ones from another. I know ours came as a LFT/PCR pair.

OP posts:

NotJustACigar · 30/12/2021 09:23

I used Project Screen (prenetics) for my day 2 pcr and it took about 5 days for the result to come back. They blamed royal mail but who knows?

Before that when the rule for going to France required an observed lateral flow prior to travel I used Project Screen also and they were good - got my certificate in an hour or so.

Original poster

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 02/01/2022 07:07

Final Update on Chronomics PCR by post
Posted Sunday Lunch time
Child A... Result recieved Friday 10pm
Child B... Result recieved Saturday 9.30pm

My main conclusion... don't rely on ones that use the postal system!

OP posts:

wannabebetterwatchout · 02/01/2022 10:15

Returned from a Lanzarote on 26/12. Had antigen tests in walk in clinic in resort - €20 cash only & basic swab (not throat & nose) so we were a bit sceptical but came back clear so all good. Used Covid Travel Clinics for day 2 PCR - shambles!! Discovered tests accidentally on day 2 after coming home as they'd been put under our camper van by courier and no card left! Website registering was a nightmare - took me & DS 2 hours to sort out including 4 live chats with customer service!! No drop box option so posted in the pre paid tracked envelopes. No results as of today & track & trace showing last movement was them getting as far as Belfast on Friday (we are NI, they are going to GB) even though the service is 25hr priority!! We've done LatFlows all negative - AIBU to stop self isolating now???

TheTeenageYears · 03/01/2022 01:02

@wannabebetterwatchout

Returned from a Lanzarote on 26/12. Had antigen tests in walk in clinic in resort - €20 cash only & basic swab (not throat & nose) so we were a bit sceptical but came back clear so all good. Used Covid Travel Clinics for day 2 PCR - shambles!! Discovered tests accidentally on day 2 after coming home as they'd been put under our camper van by courier and no card left! Website registering was a nightmare - took me & DS 2 hours to sort out including 4 live chats with customer service!! No drop box option so posted in the pre paid tracked envelopes. No results as of today & track & trace showing last movement was them getting as far as Belfast on Friday (we are NI, they are going to GB) even though the service is 25hr priority!! We've done LatFlows all negative - AIBU to stop self isolating now???

You can't stop isolating until you have the PCR results. It's currently important to choose Day 2 test provider very carefully to avoid your experience.

shouldhavebeen · 03/01/2022 17:10

Leaving Italy, Antigen done in a Pharmacy, results took 15 minutes.

Arrival at Manchester Airport Day 2 PCR done at Randox walkthrough, results arrived after 14 hours.

Leaving UK, Antigen test done at Manchester Collison Drive through, results arrived after an hour.

Mookie81 · 03/01/2022 18:31

I've booked Concepto for my predeparture pcr, and Boots for my day 2, has anyone used either and if so, how were they?

LadyEggs · 04/01/2022 21:03

We used Local PCR for antigen tests. Avoid. I was on the phone to them chasing our certificates only 20 mins away from the airport (they should have been with us the night before). It was an incredibly stressful experience.

jpbee · 05/01/2022 12:11

@Borisjohnsonshairbrush

We did the drive thru at MCR airport. 1.5 hrs for the results xx

@Borisjohnsonshairbrush Was this for the 2 day PCR requirement for returning to UK? If so, how did you work out what time to book it for? It would involve calculating how long it will take to get through the airport (baggage claim, passport control etc). Or are the testing centres quite relaxed around timings and just let you through when you get there?

Borisjohnsonshairbrush · 05/01/2022 14:26

@jpbee that was pre departure for Thailand.

We did Collinson again for day 2. Landed back on the 2nd Jan and booked day2 for the 4th Jan xx

Jellifer · 05/01/2022 14:50

We used Randox & Chronomics for day 2 tests this week.

Randox - posted in drop box 3pm Monday, result 7pm Tuesday.

Chronomics - posted in drop off box at TUI superstore 10am Tuesday, result 2am Wednesday.

I think relying on any test that used Royal Mail at the moment will vastly increase your isolation time.

Also used chronomics for pre-departure LFT (to get back into UK) and received the certificates via email immediately.